Lawyer intends to appeal sentence in Bucks County hunter's death

Richland Township police Officer Ray Aleman walks toward a property at 1155 California Road in the township to put up police tape on Tuesday morning. A hunter was found dead in the area on Monday.
(Donna Fisher/The Morning Call / November 30, 2010)

A Montgomery County lawyer in Graterford state prison on charges in the death of a Bucks County deer hunter intends to appeal the 10- to 25-year sentence he received last month.

Court records show David M. Manilla's lawyer filed a notice of appeal to the state Superior Court. Bucks County Court denied a motion to reconsider his sentence on July 27.

David M. Manilla pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Barry Groh, a 52-year-old Quakertown man who was shot while hunting near Manilla's property in Richland Township last November. Manilla, who had a previous felony conviction and was not to possess firearms, shot Groh on the first day of hunting season and then tried to cover up the crime. He also shot him with a high-powered rifle, which are illegal to hunt with in Bucks County.

The sentence he received last month was 21/2 years less than the maximum sentence allowed. During his sentencing, Manilla called the shooting an "unfortunate accident," and Bucks County Judge Albert J. Cepparulo said it was "close to a murder."

Norris Gelman, a Philadelphia lawyer, filed the notice on Manilla's behalf. The notice is a precursor to the actual appeal, which when filed will include the legal reasoning for the appeal.